Miniature upright piano



Dec. 8, 1936. G. H. DOWNING MINIATURE UPRIGHT PIANO 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Oct. 12, 1935 Dec. 8, 1936. G. H. DOWNING 2,063,796

MINIATURE UPRIGHT PIANO Filed Oct. 12, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Had lPatented Dec. 8, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MINIATURE UPRIGHTPIANO Britain Application October 12, 1935, Serial No. 44,791 In GreatBritain October 16, 1934 6 Claims.

The present invention concerns improvements in or relating to miniatureupright pianos of the type (hereinafter referred to as the typespecified) which has the mechanism below the keyboard, and in which themechanism is located either behind or in front of the iron frame.

In an ordinary upright piano the action is at the front of the stringsand either partly or wholly above the keyboard, so that access to thestrings is comparatively easy. In a piano of the type specified in whichthe height of the instrument is considerably reduced, the action largelyinterferes with convenient access to the strings.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome this disadvantageand to provide ease of access to the hammers for tuning purposes, and tothe strings should repairs or replacements be required. This is done bymaking the action removable from its normal position so as to leave theiron frame and the strings carried thereby much more readily accessible.

According to the present invention a miniature upright piano of the typespecified has the action and the key frame mounted to be rocked or swungtogether away from the frame and strings.

Preferably the action and the key frame are mounted to be rocked orswung together about a horizontal axis in the lower part of the pianoapproximately parallel with the general plane of the frame.

Forms of piano embodying the invention will now be described by way ofexample and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:-

Fig. 1 is a sectional end view of a rear action miniature piano with thecasing removed in which in the normal position the mechanism is locatedbehind the frame;

Fig. 2 a plan thereof with part broken away;

Fig. 3 a view corresponding to Fig. 1 of a front action miniature pianoin which the mechanism is located in front of the frame; and

Fig. 4 a plan thereof with part broken away.

Like references indicate like parts throughoutthe drawings.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 the standards I, 2 which support the actionare pivotally mounted at their lower ends on pivot pins 3, 4 extendingfrom flanges 5, 6,respectively extending rearwardly from the sides ofthe iron frame I which carries the strings 8. The rear rail 9 of the keyframe is fixed at its ends to the tops of the standards I, 2. The keyframe also has a front rail l0 and an intermediate or balance rail Hwhich in the normal position is secured by screws 12 to the top edge ofthe wrest plank 3. The several rails are connected at their ends by thinfillets [4. For clearness one key l5, wippen I6, jack ll, lift wire l8from the key to the wippen and hammer l9 only of the action areindicated. The front rail I0 is secured, as by screws, to a rail 2|projecting rearwardly from part of the piano case. Thus the forward endof the action assembly is supported and held firmly, preventingundesired vibration and at the same time rendering the keys firmer whenplaying. When the screws I2 and other screws securing the key frame havebeen removed the key frame and the action may berocked or swungrearwardly as a unit about the pivot pins 3, 4 to the position shown inchain lines in Fig. 1 until the rear edges of the standards engage stopsor supports 20 carried on the instrument case. When the action and keysare, thus swung rearwardly access may be had to the rear of the frameand strings, to the wrest pins for tuning and to the hammers.

In order to permit of the rocking or swinging movement of the actionassembly the top of the piano case is made removable. It is of course tobe understood that the back frame of the piano case is removable or canbe opened to allow the action assembly to swing rearwardly and. topermit of access to the interior.

By removing the pivot pins 3, 4 the action and key frame may be removedcompletely.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4 these show a front action piano. Thestandards l, 2 which support the action are pivotally mounted on pivotpins 3, 4 extending from flanges 5, 6 extending forwardly from the sidesof the iron frame 1. The rear rail 9 of the key frame is fixed at itsends to the tops of the standards I, 2. The front rail I0 is secured tothe rail 2| which is secured at its ends by brackets 22 to the pianocase. This means to lock the action in its normal position preventsvibration. In this case when the securing screws have been removed thekey frame and action may be rocked or swung forwardly as a unit aboutthe pivot pins 3, 4 as shown in chain lines in Fig. 3. When thus swungforwardly access may be had to the front of the frame and strings and tothe hammers. It will be seen in the form of the invention illustratedthe wrest pins are above the key frame.

What I claim is:

1. A miniature upright piano, comprising a main frame carrying thepiano-strings, a unit consisting of a key-frame, an action located belowthe level thereof and supporting means for the said key-frame andaction, and a pivotal mounting between the said main frame and the saidunit whereby it can be swung bodily away from the main frame.

2. A miniature upright piano, comprising a main frame carrying thepiano-strings, a unit consisting of a key-frame, an action located belowthe level thereof and supporting means for the said key-frame andaction, and a pivotal connection between the said main frame and thesaid unit whereby the latter can be swung bodily away from the former.

3. A miniature upright piano, comprising a main frame carrying thepiano-strings, a unit consisting of a key-frame, an action located belowthe level thereof and behind the main frame and supporting means for thesaid keyframe and action, and a pivotal connection between the back ofthe said main frame and the said unit whereby the latter can be swungbodily away from the back of the former.

4. A miniature upright piano, comprising a main frame carrying thepiano-strings, a unit consisting of a key-frame, an action located belowthe level thereof and in front of the main frame and supporting meansfor the said keyframe and action and a pivotal connection between thefront of the said main frame and the said unit whereby the latter can beswung bodily away from the front of the former.

5. A miniature upright piano, comprising a main frame supporting at itstop the usual wrest-plank for the piano-strings, a unit consisting of akey-frame with a balance rail, an action located below the level of thekey-frame, and supporting means for the said key-frame and action, apivotal connection between the said main frame and the said supportmeans and a releasable connection between the said balance rail andwrest plank.

6. A miniature upright piano, comprising a main frame carrying thepiano-strings, a piano case, a front rail secured thereto, a unitconsisting of a key-frame, an action located below the level thereof andsupporting means for the said key-frame and action, a pivotal connectionbetween the said main frame and the said unit, and a releasableconnection between the said key-frame and the said rail.

GEORGE HENRY DOWNING.

